Carbureted water gas apparatus



&p%. 27, 1938. H. J. CARSON CARBURETED WATERGAS APPARATUS Filed Dec. 9.1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 mm: w? QM INVENTOR. f/fldmJ 60/160 By M I 7% ATTORNEY.

%pt, 27, W38. H. J. CARSON CARBURETED WATER GAS APPARATUS F'iled Dec. 9,1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 7& ,4, M,

&4, ATTOQNEY 27, 1%8. H. J. CARSON 2,131,31

CARBURETED WATER GAS APPARATUS Filed Dec. 9, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 m v va fi R n g m B Q Q: e N x 8 fiydmmrbans blaegas INVENTOI? ll/mm J C0/50/1 734;, ATTORNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 2?, 1938, H. J. CARSONCARBURETED WATER GAS APPARATUS Filed Dec. 9. 1933 Patented Sept. 27,1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates toimprovements'in carburetted water gas apparatus.

In the present application, Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings and theaccompanying descrip- 5' tive matter have been divided out from my priorapplication, No. 353,576, filed April 8, 1929, now Patent No. 1,953,843,issued April 3, 1934, and Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the present applicationwith accompanying description have been divided out from my priorapplication No. 608,277, filed April 29, 1932, now Patent No. 2,033,511,granted March 10, 1936. The present application is therefore acontinuation-in-p-art of my two prior applications.

As is well known, in the usual operation of carburetted water gas sets,the time is roughly divided into two periods; the air blasting orheating up period, and the running or gas making period. The heatdeveloped during the air blasting period and stored in the generatorfuel bed, is available during the gas making period for decomposing thesteam admitted to the generator. During the blasting or heating upperiod, the potential and sensible heat in the blast gases leav- 25 ingthe generator is used to store heat in re- 35 combustion chamber at thetop thereof with a checkerwork of brick or other suitable body of heatabsorbing material positioned therebelow, the blast gases bemg burned bythe admission of secondary air for combustion in such top cham- 40 herand passed downwardly through the checkerwork of brick and out throughthe remaining apparatus. During the gas making period, the water gas orblue gas has likewise been admitted to said top chamber and thehydrocarbons for 45 carburetting the water gas simultaneously admittedinto said chamber from the top thereof in a' downward direction,coinciding with the downward flow of the water gases, the resultantproducts then being passed through the checkerwork -50 of brickdownwardly and thence from the bottom of the carburetter tothe-superheater and from the latter to such other apparatus as desired.

In the manufacture of carburetted water gas in sets such as referred to,it is well known that 55 the temperatures in the carburetter fluctuatefluctuations.

widely, with a fairly rapid deterioration of the heat absorbingmaterial, as fire brick, because of the thermal shock incident to thetemperature The temperature in the top courses of checker brick havebeen found to fluctuate" 5 from an average minimum of 640 degrees F, toan average maximum of 1886 degrees F. with ext'reme mean variations from513' degrees to 2000 degrees F, and shut-downs and replacement:

of the checker brick have been frequently neces- 10 sary. Furthermore,at' the higher temperatures,

the hydrocarbons areover-cracked with a deposit of carbon and theformation of objectionable. compounds such as naphthalene and, at thelower temperatures, the hydrocarbons are incom pletely cracked andutilized and other objectionable compounds such as ihde'ne and styreneare formed.

Also, in the former usual types of carburetter apparatus referred to,the brick in the carburetter are rapidly cooled by the vaporization andcracking of'the oil and, in the usual up and down gas sets, are furthercooled by the relatively cool blue gas and undecomposed steam whichenter the carburetter at temperatures substantially lower than requiredfor optimum oil crackingconditions; 'This cooling often progresses tosuch an extent that it is diificult to ignite the blow gasesand-secondary air during the following air' blasting period.

As previously stated, in the usual apparatus for carburetting water gas,the hydrocarbon particles are injected downwardly into and traveldownwardly with the passing stream of water-- gas. The greater densityand initial velocity'of the hydrocarbon particles causes these to have agreater downward velocity than the gas particles and, also, the greaterdensity of the cooler gas 1 particles as they are cooled by contact withthe 40 hydrocarbon particles, causes these to have a greater downwardvelocity than the hotter gas particles and the hotter. gas particles tohave a lesser downward velocity; The downwardly moving hydrocarbonparticles are thussurrounded ifi with cool particles of gas'and thecracking and/or gasification of the hydrocarbon particles is retarded bythis surrounding atmosphere of cooler gas. Further, the undecomposedsteam and water'gas enter the carburetter below the desired temperaturesfor cracking and must be heated therein. I I

It is well known that optimum conditions for the gasification orcracking of liquidhydrocar bons in the carburetter require themaintenance of temperatures within fairly narrow limits and one objectof this invention, therefore, is to provide, in apparatus for themanufacture ofcarburetted water gas, a carburetter which will eliminateor minimize all of the disadvantages hereinbefore pointed out inconnection with prior known types of carburetted water gas sets and,more specifically, to maintain the temperatures in the carburetting andhydrocarbon cracking zones within such minimum and maximum temperaturesas will prevent the formation of objectionable compounds and minimizethe cleteri oration of heat absorbing material in the carburetter.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in connection withapparatus for the manufacture of carburetted water gas, improved meansfor preheating the water gas prior to the introduction of hydrocarbonsthereinto and for injecting the hydrocarbons into the stream of watergas in such manner and at such time as to insure substantially optimumconditions of operation and the production of carburetted water gaswithout objectionable compounds being formed in any substantial amount.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved means forinsuring ignition of the blast gases entering the carburetter at thebeginning 7 of the air blasting periods.

The invention has for a further object, the provision of a combustionand heat-absorbing chamber located between the generating andcarburetting chambers, such that heat may be stored therein during eachblasting period to be utilized for preheating the blue gas andundecompos'ed steam toward and above the optimum temperatures for oilenriching hydrocarbon gasification, during the succeeding gas run,before such blue gas and undecomposed steam enter the oil or hydrocarbonadmission zone, whereby, during the gas runs, the water gas andundecomposed steam are heated to relatively high temperatures in theirpassage through the combustion and heat-absorbing chamber and, uponentering the oil gasification zone with the heat imparted thereto, carryheat to the oil particles in the oil gasification zone with assurance ofmore nearly uniform and optimum temperatures prevailing therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide in apparatus of thecharacter indicated, a mixing chamber in the oil or hydrocarbonadmission zone in the carburetter, to allow for the thorough mixingtherein of the highly heated entering blue gas and steam with the oilvapors or mist, to the end that the mixture of the entering hot gas andsteam with the oil particles heated by radiation from the carburetterlining and adjacent refractory material will insure bringing the oilparticles to or nearly to optimum temperatures for cracking and, in thepresence of a reactive gas, such as hydrogen, in the blue gas at optimumcracking temperatures, stable hydrocarbon gases will be formed with apractically complete conversion of the carbon and hydrogen in the oilinto such gases.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in apparatus ofthe character indicated, means insuring a uniform or substantiallyuniform descent of the mixture of hydrocarbon particles or gases andblue gas and steam within the hydrocarbon admission zone by theutilization of 7 means for injecting the hydrocarbons into,

. against and/or countercurrent to the downward- 1y descending blue gasand steam so that the latter, in striking or impinging against thehydrocarbon particles, cool and drop out of the way of the hydrocarbons,gas and steam introduced or admitted thereafter, with a resultantuniform descent of the mixed gas column through the carburettingchamber.

Further objects of the invention'are to provide, in an apparatus for thecarburetting of water gas, improved means for the handling of a largevolume of blue gas entering the carburetter by reducing the absolutepressures therein to promote the conversion of the-hydrocarbons intostable hydrocarbon gases; to provide an arrangement such that down runWater gas may be carburetted in the same efficient manner in a secondcarburetter as in the case of the up run water gas as previouslyindicated, the two carburetters being so associated with the generatorthat the up run steam may be superheated in the additional carburetter;and to provide apparatus such that when employing the two carburetters,ignition of the up and down blast gases will be insured after each gasrun.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from thedescription and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a partelevation, part vertical section of a carburetted water gas plantshowing the improvements incorporated therein. Figure 2 is a partial topplan view of the structure shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a view similarto Figure 1 illustrating a somewhat modified embodiment of theinvention. Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating stillanother modification of the invention. Figure 5 is a vertical, sectionalview of a carburetter such as illustrated in Figure 4, but slightlymodified and adapted to be used in lieu thereof. And Figure 6 is a Viewsimilar to Figure 4 illustrating still another embodiment of theinvention.

Referring first to the construction illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, agenerator 5l2 is there shown, the same having a fuel bed 5|! and meansfor supplying air to the fuel bed at selectively controlled differentlevels 520, 520 and 520".

Steam, for the gas run, is adapted to be admitted under control throughthe pipes 52l at a level above the lowermost air, blast level. Thegenerator is connected by a passageway 525 from the top thereof to aninlet at the top of the carburetter 5| 3, which in turn has an outlet atthe bottom thereof connected by a passageway to gas superheater 5. Thelatter is equipped with the usual top gas ofitake' 533 for use whendesired, and with another gas offtake 534 leading to a condenser 535 andvacuum pump 531, by means of which the gases may be withdrawn under apartial vacuum, when desired. The gas superheater is provided also withthe usual stack valve 532 and, adjacent the top thereof, is connected bya passageway 38 to regenerator 5l5 and from the latter with alternateregenerators 5l6 and 5l6 (see Figure 2) and through which the blastgases are passed to store heat therein for superheating steam andpreheating air. The generator is also shown as provided with novel meansfor effecting carbonization of the fuel in its descent to the fuel bedproper and for withdrawing the products of distillation, but inasmuch asthese form no part of the present invention, detailed descriptionthereof is deemed unnecessary. Neither is it deemed necessary todescribe in detail in this application, the preferred manner ofselectively admitting the air blasts to the lower zone of the fuelcolumn inasmuch as these features are more fully described in saidPatent No. 1,953,848 to which reference may be had. 7

The carburetter 5|3 is shown equipped with a secondary air supply 559and also a steam supply 564 which latter may be used when desired. Inthe drawings is also shown a top oil inlet 521, such as customarilyheretofore employed, but which, in the present invention, is dispensedwith. In the present invention, the enriching hydrocarbons forcarburetting the blue gas are admitted through the plurality of inlets529 and 529 arranged circumferentially in the shell of the carburetter,as clearly shown.

During each air blasting period, the blow gases enter the carburetter atthe top through the passageway 525 and, with secondary air admittedthereto through 559, are burned in the top combustion chamber 526 and incontact with a body of heat-absorbing material 528 which is therebyheated by such burned and/or burning gases passing downwardlytherethrough and/or in contact therewith. When air blasting isdiscontinued after the heat-absorbing material 528 has been heated tothe desired extent, steam is admitted to the generator and the blue gasand any undecomposed steam admixed therewith, pass into the carburetterthrough the passageway 525 (the usual oil inlet 521 not being used). Theblue gas and steam then pass downwardly through and/or in contact withthe heat-absorbing material 528 and are heated thereby, the extent ofthe heating in such case depending upon the temperature to whichpreviously heated, and amount of heat-absorbing material 528. The gasand steam then enter the hydrocarbon admission zone 529 below theheat-absorbing material 528 and the enriching hydrocarbons aresimultaneously injected into and against the descending stream of gasand/or steam, through the inlets 529 and With the heat-absorbingmaterial528 used in sufficiently large amount and heated to a sufliciently hightemperature, the blue gas and steam are heated to a sufficiently hightemperature such that, when admixed with the hydrocarbons injected asaforesaid, the mean temperature of the oil, gas and steam supplementedby the heat radiated thereto from the adjacent refractory material ofthe shell lining, is at or close to the optimum temperature for thevaporization and cracking of the hydrocarbons into stable hydrocarbongases.

Additional heat-absorbing material 530 may be used when desired, belowthe carburetting zone 529, for completing the cracking and/or fixing ofthe hydrocarbon gases in conjunction with the gas superheater 5l4 butsaid heat-absorbing material 539 may be omitted when desired as, forexample, when heavy high carbon oils are used which would tend todeposit carbon on or clog the heat-absorbing material 530 to anobjectionable extent.

From the preceding description, considered in connection with thedrawings, it will be noted that the heat-absorbing material 528. is notexposed to the cooling action of the hydrocarbons so that, whatever itsamount or mass, it remains at the end of each gas run at a much highertemperature than in the case of carburetters heretofore commonly usedwhere the oilsisinjected downwardly from the top of the carburetter.Hence, as will be evident, the heat-absorbing material 528 will remainat a sufficiently high temperature so as to always insure-ready and easyor omitted, the gas may be drawn off through a1.-

fdenser 535. carburetter through passageway 538, to regenerators 5l5 and516 and 5H5 (the latter not shown ignition of the blast gases duringeach subsepresent invention, reduced to a minimum.

In the arrangement of Figure 3 a generator 5l2' and carburetter 5I3,similar to those shown 10 in Figure 1, are employed but with the usualgas superheater omitted and the gas offtake shown at 533 leading to aseal separator or such other apparatus as desired. With. this offtakenot used 15 vacuum pump 531, preferably through. av con- The blast gasesare led from the in Figure 3) as indicated in Figure 2, with the -igoheat therefrom largely stored-in such regenerators for superheatingsteam and preheating air.

The operation of the carburetter and withdrawal of the gases therefromis similar to that heretofore described for Figure 1 except that thecar-e25 buretting is completed in the carburetter without the use of thegas superheater.

Referring next to the construction illustrated in Figure 4, a threeshell water gas set is there illustrated consisting of a generator,improved 'ao carburetter and a gas superheater. The generator I0 isshown provided with means for the alternate admission of blasting airand steam in the usual well known manner, the air being adcarburetter 29by a passageway 40 within which is disposed a control valve 4|. Watergas generated by a down run in the generator is delivered 51 from thebottom of the generator to the passageway 40 by the pipe l1, havingcontrol valve l8 included therein, as shown.

. Steam is supplied from any suitable source, such as a boiler, notshown, through pipe 425; having branches 43 and 44 adapted to conductthe steam to the top of the generator and bot- -tom, respectively, asshown, the admission of steambeing controlled through suitable valves45, 46 and 41. Steam may also be admitted to? the top of the superheater30 through. pipe 48 having control valve 49 therein, when the set isoperated in the. manner hereinafter described. When steam is admitted tothe superheater, the water gas may be drawn off from the bottom of f thegenerator through the pipe 50 having control valve 5| therein and passedfrom the pipe 50 through a water seal, not shown, or other suitableapparatus not deemed necessaryto describe.

Air for secondary combustion of the blast gasesl' is preferably admittedthrough pipe 2| into the passageway 40 between the valve 4! andcarburetter, said supply of air being controlled by the valve 22. Thecarburetter 20, as shown, is provid'ed' in the top portion thereof witha com- 7 bustion chamber 23 and below the latter with a body ofheat-absorbing material, such as a checkerwork of brick 24 supported byan arch 25. Be-

latter a second body of heat-absorbing material 21 is shown which mayalso be a checkerwork of brick or the like, but which may be omittedwhen desired. The arch 25 is so located as to provide the desiredproportions and/or spaces in 23, 24, 26 and/or 27. The heat-absorbingmaterial 21 may be used when desired to further and complete thecracking and/or gasification of any hydrocarbons uncracked in 26, butmay be omitted when desired, as for example, when not required or whenvery heavy high carbon oils are used which would deposit carbon thereonand tend to clog the openings therein.

The hydrocarbons or enriching agents are supplied to the carburettingchamber or hydrocarbon admission Zone 25 through a set of pipes 28 28and/or another set of pipes 29-29, each of which is provided with asuitable control valve I28 and I29, respectively, said pipes being morefully described hereinafter.

From the vbottom of the carburetter 20, the burned blast gases and thecarburetted water gas, as the case may be, are conveyed to the bottom ofthe superheater 30 through passageway 52 and thence pass upwardlythrough the regenerative zone, also preferably comprised of acheckerwork of brick or other suitable material 3|. In the case of theburned blast gases, the same are adapted to pass up into the stack 32through the flue 33, controlled by valve 34 or to such other apparatusas desired. .During the gasmaking period, the carburetted water gas isdelivered from the top of the superheater as through pipe 35 and passedthrough a water seal to other apparatus where it may be treated in theusual manner.

Assuming a column of fuel in the generator I0 and the same having beenignited, air is admitted through the pipe I3 and the blast gases arethen conducted through the passageway 40 (valve 4| being open); burnedin the passageway 40 and combustion chamber 23 by admission of secondaryair through the pipe 2| with valve 22 open, the burned and/or burningblast gases then passing downwardly through the passages of and incontact with the body of heat-absorbing material 24; through the chamber26; and thence up through the superheater 30 and out through the stack32, the stack valve 34 being open, as will be understood.

. After the air blasting has been continued the desired length of time,the supply of air is shut off and steam then admitted either through thepipe'43 or 44. The water gas then generated is conducted from either thetop of the generator or the bottom, depending upon whether it is an upor a down run, through the passage 40 into the chamber 23, thencedownwardly through the passages of and in contact with the body ofheatabsorbing material 24 and on downwardly through the carburettingchamber or hydrocarbon admission Zone 26, where it is carburetted ashereinafter described, thence through passageway 52 p and up through thesuperheater 30 and out through the pipe 35. When an up run is beingmade, the valve 4| is open and valve I8 closed and, during a down run,valve 4| is closed and Valve I8 open. When desired, the steam is ad-.mitted through pipe 48 to the top of the superheater, then passeddownwardly therethrough andthen upwardly through the carburetter fromwhich it is delivered to the top of the generator, valve 4| being open.The blue gas formed is then drawn off through the pipe 50. When steam isadmitted ior up and down runs throughthe pipes 43 and 44, the entire orany desired portion of the resultant gas may be carburetted in thecarburetter 20 as obvious. When, however, a down run is made from steamadmitted to the superheater at 48, the resultant gas from such down runwill not be carburetted in the carburetter 20 but will be taken offthrough the pipe 50 and passed to such other apparatus as desired.

Referring now to the carburetter I20 shown in Figure 5, the same is ofthe same general character as the carburetter 20, previously described,except that the body of heat-absorbing material I24 is made larger; thecarburetting chamber or hydrocarbon admission zone I26 made larger andthe second body of heat-absorbing material I21 also made larger, whichlatter may be omitted, however, when desired. The upper pipes 228 forinjecting the enriching agents are located and disposed similar to thecorresponding pipes 28 of the carburetter shown in Figure 4 form and theinclined pipes 229 are disposed somewhat lower down in thechamber andupwardly inclined at a more acute angle to the vertical than as shown incarburetter 20. By employing a larger body or heat-absorbing materialI24, a greater amount of heat may be stored and the preheat of the watergas raised higher than with the smaller body 24 of the first describedform. By inclining the injector pipes 229 at a more acute angle to thevertical, the injection of the enriching agents may be made more nearlydirectly full counter current to the flow of the downwardly moving watergas to insure the proper intermingling,

heating, vaporization and cracking of various classes of enrichingagents in the desired quantity and to the desired degree.

When the carburetter I20 is used in lieu of carburetter 20, (as will beclear from Figure 6 described hereinafter) the passageway 240 is con-.

nected to the passageway 40 from the generator and the passageway-252 isconnected into passageway 52 leading to the superheater. In sucharrangement, the valve 253 may be omitted and also the valved pipes 244,245 and 255, which are now shown on Figure 5.

It is also contemplated that the carburetter I20 may be used in certaininstallations of sufiicient size so that the vaporization and crackingof the hydrocarbons and formation of the suitable hydrocarbon gases iscompleted within the carburetter I20 and without using the superheater30. Insuch cases, the body of heat-abf sorbing material I27 may or maynot be used as desired. When the carburetter I20 is used:

without the superheater 30, the carburetted water gas may be drawn offin any suitable manner and previously described, substituted for thecarburetter 20 and an additional similar carburetter connected to thegenerator at the opposite side for down run gases. In said Figure 6, thecarburetter 320 at the right thereof is shown with its inlet340;connected by pipe I40."

as through the valve controlled pipe 255; and

'date the view on the sheet.

to the passageway 40 from the generator Ill'rand the passageway 352connected into the passageway 52 leading to the superheater 3B, which isonly partially indicated in order to accommo- When the superheater 30 isso used, the valved pipes 353, 344,

345, 355 and 32I maybe omitted andthe carbur retter 320 will then beoperated in the same manner as previously described for carburetters 2'0and I20 of Figures 4 and 5. Whenthe. super-- heater 30 is omitted, aspreviouslyindicated and which may be desirable under some conditions,

the outlet passage 352 will be suitably blanked off and the carburettedwater gas drawn ofi in any desired manner through the offtake 35.5 andblast gases discharged through the outlet 354. In this. last describedarrangement wherein the superheater 30 is omitted, the down run steammay be admitted through the valved inlet 344,

together withany oxygen containing gas, such as air, admixed therewith,if desired, admitted.

through the valved inlet 345.

In utilizing the carburetter 420 shownat the left of the generator, forcarburetting down run gas, the pipe I34 at the base of the generator isconnected through pipe 240 to the inlet 44!) at 1 .as previouslydescribed for the carburetters '20 and I20. The down run gas willfollow'the same course and be carburetted within the carburettingchamber 426 in the same manner as previ:

ously described in connection with the car-bu-y retters 20 and I20. Withthe arrangement de scribed utilizing the carburetter 420, up ,run steamand any oxygen-containing gas such as air, which it may be desired toadmix therewith, are

admitted through the valved inlets 444 and 445 and superheated in theupward passage through the carburetter 420 whence it is delivered to thebottom of the generator through 240 and I34,

as obvious.

When the carburetter 420 is used forcarburetting down run gas asdescribed in the 'pre-- ceding paragraph, the air for up blasting thefuel column which is admitted to the bottom of the generator may bepreheated in said carbu retter 420, being admitted thereto through thevalved inlet 445 at the bottom thereof. In this case, the air blastinginlet I3 may be entirely dispensed with or, if desired, retained for usefrom time to time. Further, with the arrangement just described, whenthe carburetter 420 is utilized for carburetting down run gas with thesteam for a down run admitted at the top of the superheater 30 (seeFigure 1 or at 344 of, carbu retter 320, Figure 6), and steam for anuprun admitted through 444, the steam admissionpipes 42, 43 and 44 tothe generator may be dispensed with as well as the connection I! and thevalve 4|. In this latter arrangement also, the air inlets 2I3 and 32Imay be combined into a single valved inlet, the latter being utilizedfor admission of both down air blasting and secondary The burned gases,after combustion of the blasting gases from upair i blasting. In thesame arrangement, when the down rungas, the .down run blast gasesresulting from air' admitted at 213 at the top of the generator or at 3atthe .top of the superheater 2 carburetter 428 is not utilized forcarburet ting 1 30, may be takenoff from the bottom of the generatorthrough the. valved outlet I34, valve 5| being closed. Further, withvalve '4 Iain place i andclosed, the resultant blast gases from downblast air admitted at 2 I3, may be passed through 1.

the pipe IT to the carburetter'3210'and burned therein by secondary airadmitted through the pipe 32I', as previously described.

It will be seen from the-preceding description, that not only does theinvention provide improved means for manufacturing carburetted water gasin a set employing a generator, carburetter and superheater, in thearrangement'shown in Figures 1,3 and. 4 for either up run gas only orboth up and .down run gas butalso, when the ar- 1 rangementsinvolvingthe use of the carburetters I20, 320 and 420 are employed asdescribed, further improved results areobtained'. When down air blastingis'employed with the resultant blast gases leaving either the base ofthe; generator orpassing to the carburetter and burned therein, 7 thecarburetting can be carried out with equal? efliciency.

Referring now more particularly to the carbue retters in each-figure, itwill beobserved that with the apparatusin operatiomthe blast gases andsecondary air therefor during each air blasting period areimmediatelyignited adjacent the inlet to the carburetter by the hot heatabsorbing material in'the carburetter which doesynot become cooled bycontact with the hydrocarbons and such gases are ormaybe substantiallycompletely burned prior'to and/ or in passing through the passages in'orin contact with such heatabsorbing material.

The burned gases, in passing through or in contact with suchheat-absorbing material, heat the latter to such temperature as desiredand,

after passing therethrough, will also serve to heatv the lining of the'c'arburetting chamber or hydrocarbon admission zone and (when used)'theheatabsorbing material in the lower portion ofthe carburetter as well asthe body of regenerative material in thefgas superheater of Figure 4.

During the gas forming period, the water gas and suchundecomposedsteamasmay be mingled therewith,'is preheated in its downward passagethrough the combus'tionchambers at the tops of the respectivecarburetters andthe heat-absorb- '5 ing material immediately therebelowso that, by the time the water gas and/or steam enter the carburettingchambers below theheat-absorbing material, the water gas and/or steamhave attained the desired temperature for most effectively heating,vaporizing and cracking the hydrocarbons injected thereinto.

In injecting the enriching agents into'the carburetting chambers, itwill be observed that the same are injected at a plurality of pointsaround the periphery of the chamber: or periphery of the downwardlymoving stream of gas, and laterally into and/or against the'stream ofsuperheated gas. jected horizontally, as shownin all the embodimentsillustrated or at an upward angle toward the arches as shown inFigures4, 5 and 6. In

any event, the enriching agents are injected from w the periphery intothe body of the downwardly moving gas stream, the injection being underThe enriching agents may be in suit the enriching agents employed and/orthe degree of cracking desired. In actual practice, nozzles or spudswill preferably be used on the :inner ends of the pipes 529 529*, 28,29, 228,

229, 328, 328, 428 or 429, as the case may be and adjusted so as tospray the enriching agents in the desired manner and at the desiredangle relative to the downwardly moving stream of gas.

As the hydrocarbon particles of the enriching agents are projected intothe stream of preheated water gas under relatively high velocity, theirvelocity or momentum is progressively and gradually decreased as thesame move into and penetrate the gas stream and, simultaneouslytherewith, the hydrocarbon particles will be progressively heated,vaporized and cracked as the hy drocarbon particles impinge against thegas particles until all of the hydrocarbon particles are cracked. Thegreater the mass of such hydrocarbon particles and the greater theirvelocity,

the farther the same will penetrate into the descending gas stream andthe angle at which injected may be varied accordingly. The larger orheavier the hydrocarbon particles injected, the greater the need formore velocity and distance of penetration into and against the gasstream in order to insure the complete cracking thereof, as will beunderstood. As the hydrocarbon particles impinge on successive particlesof the descending gas, the same are gradually heated, vaporized andcracked and diminished in size until complete cracking occurs and theresultant carburetted mixture is passed downwardly through the lowerbody of checkerwork in the carburetter (if and when used) and thence tothe superheater.

The water gas particles, as they descend through the carburettingchamber or hydrocarbon admission zone and are carburetted by thepenetration of the hydrocarbon particles therein, are cooled and theparticles,as cooled and carburetted, have a greater density andaccelerated downward velocity, thus automatically drawing more of thesuperheated water gas downwardly after them and into the carburettingchamber or zone and path of the hydrocarbon particles admitted therein,with a resultant relatively uniform descent of the gases through thecarburetter. into the gas stream, continually meet hot gas particles andcracking is thereby acceleratedand completed in a relatively uniformmanner.

As will be understood, the body of heat-absorbing material above thecarburetting chamber, may be of such size and may be heated during theair-blasting period to such desired degree that, when the water gas issubsequently passed therethrough and preheated, the temperature of thewater gas and any undecomposed steam carried therewith and the heat fromthe lining of the chamber will effect the desired complete cracking ofthe enriching agents in a relatively rapid manner, and more nearlyuniform and optimum temperatures maintained.

It will further be noted that, with the improved carburetters described,the heat-absorbing material above the carburetting chamber (and thesupporting arch when employed), is not exposed .to the cooling action ofthe hydrocarbons admitted to the carburetting chamber so that it remainsat a much higher temperature than the checkerwork in the case of thecarburetters which inject the oil from the top downwardly thereon .andinsures ready and easy ignition of the blast The hydrocarbon particlesin their travelrelatively high velocity which may be varied to gasesduring each subsequent air-blasting period.

For the, enriching. agents, various grades of liquid hydrocarbons may beemployed and also 9 hydrocarbons, such as butane and propane, whichlatter are in the gaseous state at ordinary atmospheric temperatures andpressures. Kerosene and gasoline, which are unsuitable for distributionas city gas, may also be employed.

In those localities where natural gas is used as an enricher for watergas, the improved carburetted water gas apparatus may be operated asintroduced and supply, as desired. Further, by the improved carburettingapparatus herein disclosed, the water gas may be so carburetted as toapproximate the heating values and burning characteristics of water gasenriched by or mixed with natural gas and of natural gas and hence maybe used instead of, or supplemental to, such. enriched or mixed gases ornatural gas, when necessary, and without the necessity of burneradjustments and at the same time eliminating other serious difiicultiesoccurring when gases of different heating values and/or othercharacteristics are used.

The preheat in the blue gas and steam may be varied in either or both oftwo ways, one by the amount or mass of heat-absorbing material in thewalls and/or body of heat-absorbing material above the carburetting zoneof the carburetter, and the second, the quantity of heat units stored insuch heat-absorbing material depending upon the temperature to whichraised. For illustration, and referring to the embodiment shown inFigure 4, with the body of heat-absorbing material 24 in the drawingsentirely omitted and with only the heat-absorbing surfaces of thecarburet ting shell available, when the hydrocarbons are sprayedcounter-current into and against the down-coming stream of gas andsteam, the hydrocarbons are mixed and vaporized in the stream, theradiant heat of the carburetter lining together'with the sensible heatin the gas stream entering the carburetter heating the hydrolittlepreheat is imparted to the descending" stream of gas and steam. Theinjection of the hydrocarbons below such body of heat-absorbingmaterial, as will be obvious, avoids the cooling of said body ofheat-absorbing material and the improved construction and resultantprocess thereby provide for the mixing, vaporizing and/or cracking ofthe hydrocarbons in the downwardly moving stream with the superheaterrelied upon for completingof the cracking and/or gasification.

Obviously, the greater the quantity or mass of the body ofheat-absorbing material 24, the greater the quantity of heat units atany given temperature which may be stored therein during an air blastingperiod and which may then be absorbed by the blue gas and steam duringthe following gas-making period. By increasing the quantity or mass ofsaid body of heat-absorbing material and/or the temperature to which itis heated during each air blasting period, the de gree of preheating ofthe gas and/or steam may be controlled as desired up to the maximumtemperature or close to the highest temperature obtainable by thesecondary combustion of the air blast gases. As is wellknown, thetemperature and the time of contact during which the cracking and/orgasification of the hydrocarbons takes place, determine the character ofthe resultant products and it is obviousthat with the constructionherein described, the temperature of the gas and steam into which thehydrocarbons are injected may be varied as desired and kept withinrelatively narrow limits for the optimum conditions for producing theproducts of the desired character. The hydrogen of the water gas assistsin the formation of the hydrocarbons in that the hydrogen acts as adeterrent toward the formation of additional hydrogen and the depositingof carbon liberated thereby.

From the preceding description, it will be seen that the temperature ofthe water gas as delivered into the carburetting chamber may be moreeffectively controlled within the desired limits than in prior usedarrangements such as referred to; the formation of objectionablecompounds and deposits of carbon are avoided; fluctuations in thetemperatures of the body of heat-absorbing material may readily be con-'trolled within reasonable limits to prevent excessive deterioration; andthe enriching hydrocarbons are injected in such manner and under suchtemperature control conditions of the Water gas, as to insure andaccelerate the progressive heating, vaporization and desired crackingthereof and the desired intermingling with the water gas efiectedwithout appreciably cooling the heat-absorbing material and/orsupporting arch, whereby ignition of the blast gases of a succeed ingperiod may be readily effected and the water gas effectively enriched toa greater degree than in prior constructions or methods.

The invention further provides means for carburetting the down run gasin a carburetter of the usual water gas set wherein the carburetterincludes the improvements herein described and in which the enrichingagents are injected counter-current into and against a descending streamof blue water gas and/or steam; the preheating of such gas and steamprior to carburetion; and a means insuring ignition of the blow gases atthe beginning of each blasting period. The invention further providesfor the use of an additional improved carburetter for carburetting thedown run gases and which is also adapted to superheat the up run steamand/or preheat the air for up blasting while at the same time theimproved carburetter and/or superheater occupying the usual position inthe regular water gas set are similarly adapted to superheat the downrun steam and/or preheat the down blast air. As will be apparent, the upblasting with air provides a hot zone in the lower portion of the fuelbed, the down blasting with air provides a hot zone in another portionof the fuel bed and the two hot zones thereby formed increase the steamdecomposition and gas generating capacity of the fuel bed.

Although there has herein been shown and described what is nowconsidered the preferred manner of carrying out the invention, the sameis intended by way of description and not by way of limitation, since itis obvious that the construction may be varied without departing fromthe invention, to suit different conditions and requirements .inparticular situations.

changes and modifications coming within .the'

scope of the appended claims are contemplated.

What is claimed is: 5

1. An upright carbureter for. use in a car- I bureted gas generatingset, said carbureter having a gas inlet, an .air inlet, and a combustionsupporting said material; an unobstructed car-v bureting chamber belowthe arch extending for a substantial vertical distance and located abovethe bottom outlet to allow of movement of gases downwardly therethroughin a vertical path for a substantial distance before entering theoutlet; and means located below the arch for injecting hydro-carbons.into said carbureting chamber at an angle to the vertical, said meansincluding a plurality of nozzles disposed around the periphery of thecarbureting chamber, said nozzles being inclined upwardly toward thearch.

2. An upright carbureter for a water gasgenerating set, said carburetercomprising a shell with a single top gas inlet, a single bottom outlet,and a combustion chamber at the top of the shell; a, supporting archapproximately midway of the shell and located therewithin; a body ofchecker brick supported by the arch and located below the combustionchamber; a carbureting chamber within the shell below and extending fromthe arch to'the bottom of the shell, and a plurality of hydro-carboninjecting means disposed around and extending through the periphery ofthe shell, said means being inclined upwardly in a general directiontoward the center of the arch and located a substantial distance belowthe arch and above said bottom outlet.

3. In a carbureterfor a water gas generating set comprising a shell witha top inlet, a bottom outlet, and a combustion chamber at the top of theshell; a body of heat regenerative material in the upper portion of theshell; means for supporting said material; a carbureting chamber belowsaid supporting means and extending to the bottom of the shell; andmeans for injecting hydro-carbons upwardly within said carburetingchamber, said injecting means being located below said supporting meansand at least one fourth the height of the shell above said outlet.

4. In a water gas generating set, the combination with a water gasgenerator; of a carbureter having a main vertical passage therethroughfrom top to bottom with a single inlet only at the top for alternateadmission of blast and water gases and a single, outlet only at thebottom for said gases; means for conducting blast gases and water gasproduced in said generator into the carbureter through said inlet; meansfor introducing air for secondary combustion into said blast gases; acombustion chamber in the upper portion of said passage of thecarbureter for the secondary combustion of blast gas and admixed airpassing through the carbureter; heat regenerating means located withinsaid main passage with the top thereof disposed in proximity to saidinlet and the bottom thereof terminated above and distant from saidoutlet, for the absorption of heat of the secondary combustion of theblast gases of one run and the ignition of the blast gases in the nextsucceeding gas run; a carbureting chamber extending a substantialdistance vertically in said main pasand substantially prior to 'thepassage of the water gas into said outlet, said hydro-carbon injectingmeans including a nozzle positioned to deliver the hydro-carbons in anupward direction and countercurrent to the downwardly 5 moving water gasstream.

HIRAM J. CARSON.

